Conveyer



March 16 1926. 1,577,172

H. CAMP-BELL CONVEYER Filed Jan. 31 '1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I lifting one or more each side and Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

- HORACE L. cAMrBnLnor ST. LOUIS, MIssoUnI.

ooNvEYnn.

A iplication'filed January 31, 1924. SeriaI No. 689,638.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE a citizen of thefUnited'States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyers, of'whichthe following is a specification. T

This invention relates to conveyers, and pertains more particularly to a type of portable elevating conveyer which is capable of holders or'receptacl'es through a curvilinear path-while simultaneously maintaining said holders constantin' position orinclination relatively to the sup- 1 porting framework of the conveyor, so'tha't the contents of the holders may not be dis charged by reason of the holdersbecoming tilted or tippedinadvertently. One embodiment of the invention is in 'the form of an attached loader for motor trucks and other vehicles and the like. Another form of this invention contemplates a separateportable loader, which is, also, capable of use as a lifting jack for vehicles. In the accompanying drawings forming partof this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur, I

Figure 1 is a plan view of'this invention as embodiedin a loader for vehicles, the holder being shown as having arrived at a point midway between its highest andlowest positions;

' Figure 2 is an elevation of the same, but showing the device in withdrawn position; Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the stabilizing gearing,

Figure l is a plan view of a lifting-jack embodying this invention, showing the same elevated half way; I

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical central sectional view of the same in its lowest position; and p 1 Figure 6 is a side elevation, showing the lifter in its highest osition.

Referring to the form shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the usual rear wheels 1 are secured in the usual manner to the rear end of a vehicle having a body 2, the forward end of the vehicle and its front wheels being broken away in Figures 1 and 2. The body 2 comprises sides 3 and a bottom or'floor 4. Bolted to the bottom a of. the vehicle at at the end thereof are dey pending hangers 5, having oppositely dis- L. CAMPBELL,

posed and mutually alined bearings 6, 1n which is fixed the stationary shaft '7 by means of set-screws 8. j The projecting ends 7 9 of shaft 7 are preferably turned down or reduced in diameter, and exterior threads 10 intervene between the reduced ends 9 and the intermediate enlarged-diameter portion 11 of the shaft 7.

Bevel gears 12 are fixed to the extreme ends of stationary shaft or axle 7 by keys 13 and set screws 14. Circular or wheel segments 15 are pivoted on shaft 7 just in side of each gear 12 through the roller.

bearings comprising the outer internallyconical sleeves 16, fitting in recesses 17 in central bosses 18 of segments 15, the inner externally-conical sleeves 19 fitting on shaft 7, and the rollers 20 intermediate of the sleeves 16 and 19; Nuts 21 are slidable over the reduced-diameter ends '9 and fit threads 10, and are adjusted to bear against the inside ones of the pair-of inner sleeves 19 to produce the proper pressure and tightness in the roller bearings, the outside ones of the inner sleeves 19 being forced against the gears 12.

Wheel segments or slightly larger than a semicircle and bosses 22 are'forined tion of the chord edge 23 with the circular edge or periphery 2% Roller bearings, similar to the roller bearings on shaft 7 ,are preferably arranged in the bosses 22, and comprise the usual internally-conical sleeves l6,'externally-conical sleeves 19, and rollers 20. Pins 25 fit in the sleeves 19. Bevel gears 26. are fixed to the outer projecting ends 27 of pins 25 by keys 28 and set screws 29. Nuts 30 on threads 31 of pins 25 bear against the inner ends of the roller bearings, and the extreme inner ends 32 of the pins 25 are reduced in diameter to permit nuts 30 to slide thereover when "assembling or disassembling the roller bearings. A holder or receptacle 33, preferably comprising a shelf 34 and hangers 35 at each end thereof, are secured by keys 36 to the pins 25, passing through the upper end ofthe hangers 35. 1 Arms 37, preferably formed integral with thewheel segments 15, project therefrom in juxtaposition to the bosses 18 and 22, re-

rotary members 15 are.

thereon near the lower juncare journaled shafts 39, to which are fixed bevel gears and 41, meshing with bevel gears 12 and 26 respectively. A collar 42 secures said shaft against longitudinal movement. Bevel gears 40 and ell are pretterably of the same size and have the same number of teeth; likewise bevel gears 12 and 26 are similar in size to one another, so that, when wheel segment 15 rotates, carrying holder 33 with it, a compensating movement istransmitted from bevel gear 12 to bevel gear 40 and throughshafts 39 to bevel gears 40and thence to bevel gears 26, and thence to holder 33 through pins 25, whereby holderv33 is rotated backward to the same degree in which segment 15 rotates forward, with the result that shell 34: is at alltimes maintained in a horizontal position irrespective of the angular positionof the segment 15.

Pins 43 arelixed on the inner side of each of the segments 15 near their peripheries, which pinsengage catches or detents 44, projecting from the lower. ends of arms -15 of levers 46 and 17, respectively, fixed to the opposite ends of rod. or shaft 18, journaled in bearings 49 inthe brackets Levers 4:0 and Ware adapted to rock as one, because of their being fixed tosthe shaft 48, and are so positioned relatively to one another that the pins 43 on opposite sides of the vehicle are engaged or disengaged simultaneously, Lever 46 has an upwardly extending arm 50, which terminatesiin a handle 51, whereby itmay be conveniently operated manually to effect disengagement of catches l l with pins 13. Tension spring 52, secured at one end 5oto arm 51, and atitsother end 5 1. to eye-bolt in theiforwardside S oi. the vehicle, tends to keep catches 4st in engaging position. A stop pin 50, fixed to forward side 3, prevents lcver 46 from being shifted too far by spring 52.

The mode of operation of the embodiment shown in Figures 1. 2, and 3 will now be briefly described. The wheel segment 15 is normally in the retracted position shown in l igure 2, being IOtl'llIlQtl therein bythe engagement of catches it with pins li). so that segment 15 is out of contact withthe road on which the vehicle istraveling. The segment 15 is in thistcondition when the vehicle is being used for the transportation of baggage or other matter from place to place. When it is desired to use the device for loading material into the vehicle. the vehicle is n'ioved adjacent to the loading point, and the lever 16 operated by handle 51 to dis engage catch l4: from pin 43, thus allowing segments 15 to turn in a clockwise direction, because ()Iiltllf) preponderance.o't weight of the segmentand associated parts on the right side of the axle '7, until the forward end. of peripheral surface 2'1 touches the surtace of the road. The articles or packages to be lated wheel 15.

loaded into the vehicle are then placed 011 the shelf 3-1, after which the vehicle is moved forward, the engagement oi. segment surface 24 with the road surface 57 resulting in the clockwise rotation of segment or muti- The forward movement of the vehicle is continued until shelf 3a reaches its extreme upper position adjacent the rear end of the vehicle body, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The articles are then unloaded, or preferably merely pushed, fromithe shelf 34 onto the bottom 4 of the body 2. To cause the descent of the shell? 34, the vehicle is moved backwards until its lowest position is reached. \Vhen the loading operation has been completed, and it,is desired to use the vehicle for transportation, the vehicle is moved backward until segment surfaces 24 are about to disengage road surface 57, when the wheel is rotated by hand in a counter-clockwise direction, until pins 43 pass catches 44:, whereupon segments 15 are again secured in this normal position by said catches. The tapered or inclined edgefiS of catches A l per1'nit,pins 4-3 to deflect catches 4.4 to allow the ascent of said pins past said catches.

Referring now to the form of this inven tion as embodied in a separate portable loader and vehicle lifter, as shown in Figures 1-, 5, and 6, side frames 91. and 92 are secured together by transverse spacing rode or braces 93, 96L, and 95, passing therethrough, and threadedataeach of their ends for the reception of nuts 96 which clamp againstthe sides oftheframes 91 and 92. Anti-friction rollers 97 joiumaled on studs 98 in the front and rear part of the frames 91 and 92 prevent the frames 91 ,and 92 from dragging along the floor 99. Pintles 100 project inwardly from either of the :trames 91 and 92 near thetop thereof, being fixed in the bosses 101 of the said frames.

Stationary, bevelgears 102 are pinned, keyed, or otherwise fixed at intermediate points of the pintlcs 100. Theels or rotary members 103 are mounted to rotate on the pintles 100 in hearings 104,.beingsecured against longitudinal movement on said pintles by the gears 102 on one side, and the collars 105 iixed on the other side to the inner end of the pintleslOO. The wheels 1023 at all times touch the floor 99, one.or both of the rollers 97 on each of the frames 91 and 92 being raised therefrom, accord ing to the tilting of the frames 91 and 92. Otherwise stated, frames 91 and 92 are members pivoted co-axially withthe rotary members 103 and are supported and depend ironrthe central bearings 104- in the wheels i023 throi'igh the intermediacy .of their pintles 100, and are not supported on the floor 99 through the rollers 97. Theprineipal function of frames 9Land 9 2 is to maintain the bevel gears 102 relatively sta- Ill) tionary to the angular movement of the wheels 103., v

Pintles 106 are journaledin bearings 107 near the rims of the wheels 103. l The inner ends of the pintles 106 are fixed in bosses 108 projecting from the outer. sides of vertical end flanges 109 vof holder or platform 110. The outer ends of pintles 106 have keyed, pinned, or otherwise suitably fixed thereto the bevel gears 111, preferablyhaving the same number of teeth as the bevel gears 102. v

Arms 112 and 113 project from the outer sides of the wheels103 in juxaposition to the gears 102 and 111, respectively, and contain bearings shafts 115 having suitably fixed thereto the bevel gears 116 and 117, preferably having the same number of teeth. Bevel gear 116 meshes with bevel gear 102, and bevel gear 117 with bevel gear-111. Collars 11.8 fixed to shafts 115 prevent longitudinal movement of said shafts. The gearing just described functions similarly to the gearing ofthe other'modifications described herein, to

maintain the platform 110 substantially parallel to the fioor*99 during the rotation of the wheels 103.

A pair of levers 119 are pivoted on rod 93 to project inwardly toward the platform 110, and are preferably held in proper position along the length of the rod 93 by set collars 120. The free ends of levers 119 are provided with transverse slots 121, open at their lower ends 122 and preferably rounded at their upper ends 123.

The operation of this last mentioned modification is as follows:

Assuming that the apparatus is in the condition represented in Figure 5, and that it is desired to use it for lifting the front end of an automobile, the automobile 124 is driven toward it so that its front wheels 125 can climb the incline 126 of platform 110, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5.

Levers 119 are next placed over the front axle 127 of the automobile 124, the axle 127 being held within the slots 121. The automobile is now again moved ahead, the levers 119 moving frames 91 and 92 through pivot 93, frames 91 and 92 in turn moving wheels 103 forward through pintles 100, the frames 91 and 92 being limited in angular movement by reason of rollers 97 meeting the floor 99.

The forward movement of wheels 103 results in their simultaneous rotation in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, with the platform 110, the front wheels 125 and front axle 127 rising during the first half of a revolution, after completion of which the parts are in the condition shown in Figure 6. To lower the automobile, the above steps are performed in reverse order. The device may be locked in 114 in which are ournaled' first mentioned member and having elevated position by passing a pin- 128 through hole 129 in frame 92 and hole 130.

in adjacent wheel 103. I

-The apparatus can, also, be used as a portable lifting device for other. purposes, the frames 91 and 92 being pushed or pulled forward by any suitablezm'eans, as for instance, the levers 119 may be swung ahead of the rod 93 and attached to the rear axle of an automobile ahead of it by means of the slots121. 7

Having thus described this invention, I

hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

' I claim:

1. In a portable elevator, the combination of a rotary member; another member pivoted co-axially with said rotary member and having its pivotal movement limited by engagement with the surface of the road traversed; a holder pivoted to the said rotary member; and parallel-motion mechanism connecting said second member and said holder, whereby the inclination of said holder relatively to said second member is maintained constant. 3

2. In a portable elevator, the combination of a rotatable member actuated by the traveling movement of the elevator; a

second member pivoted co-axially with said its pivotal movement limited by engagement with the surface of the road traversed; a

holder pivoted to the said first member; I

parallel-motion mechanism connecting said second member to said. holder; and means connected to said second member and adapted for coupling to suitable means for moving the elevator along the road.

3. The combination of a frame carrying ground engaging wheels, an axle supported by said frame, ground engaging wheels revolubly mounted on said axle and having a radius such as to raise certain of the first ground engaging wheels clear of the ground, vehicle engaging hooks pivoted to the frame, stub shafts journalled in respective second mentioned ground engaging wheels in mutual alinement, a vehicle wheel support fixed to said stub shafts, and a parallel motion device connecting the frame and support.

4. The combination of a frame carrying ground engaging wheels, an axle supported vehicle engaging hooks pivoted to the frame,

stub shafts journalled in respective second mentioned ground engaging wheels in & 1,5711%? mutual elinement, a vehicle wheel supportmtionefl ground wheel, and bevel gears fixed fixed to said stub shafts, and a parallel motion device connecting the frame and sup port, and including a bevel gear fixed in relation to the frame, a second bevel gear fixed on a stub shaft, a shaft extending radially of and journalled on a" second menon said shaft and meshing with the first and second gen-rs respectively.

In testimon slgnutm'e.

y whereof I hereunto aflix my HORACE L. CAMPBELL. 

